Page 124 of Fierce-Michael

He’d never told his mother about the time Kelly picked Ty up or the fight that followed.

He knew for a fact his mother would lecture him and tell him he was wrong. He didn’t need to be told something he knew.

“No,” he said. “They met one other time getting Ty.”

“Oh,” his mother said. “That’s good. But I’m sure this is going to be fun. Electra will probably be late.”

“I’m not sure if she’s coming,” he said. “I’ll talk to you more tomorrow. I told her she needed to figure shit out. She’s barely seen Ty in the last few months and it’s not a good situation.”

“You haven’t said a word about it,” his mother said. She looked hurt and he didn’t need that on his conscience either.

“Sorry. It’s fine. Now that Ty and Kelly know each other, it’s not as if I need someone to take him.”

“But you still need time for yourself. You’re in a newer relationship and you need to dedicate that time to her too.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ve got a good handle on things. If you want to take him one night, sure, but I don’t need to always ask for it.”

“I know you don’t have to ask,” his mother said. “But we love having him. There are Electra’s parents.”

“I’m glad they could come,” he said.

He’d done nothing more than send Amber a text of the date and time and place. No response from her, which wasn’t uncommon.

He didn’t have a problem with Electra’s parents and he didn’t think they had issues with him, but he didn’t spend a lot of time with them either.

He moved over to say hi. “I’m glad you could come,” he said.

“Where is Electra?” Amber asked. “I texted her last night and got no response and then this morning either. I thought we could have picked her up.”

“I have no idea,” he said. “I haven’t talked to her in over a week. She hasn’t seen much of Ty.”

“What’s going on?” Kirk asked. “She’s avoiding us too.”

He didn’t want to get into it now, but it might be the only time he had to talk to them.

“Why don’t we go inside for a minute.”

He turned and knew they were behind him. Kelly was in the kitchen and he hadn’t realized it. He couldn’t just ignore who everyone was.

“Hi,” Kelly said.

“Amber and Kirk, this is my girlfriend, Kelly Gifford. Kelly, these are Electra’s parents.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking their hands. “I’ll just get out of your way.”

“I hadn’t realized you were dating anyone,” Amber said. “Electra hadn’t said a word. Does she know?”

“I’m sure she knows,” Kirk said. “And that is why she’s acting like a ten-year-old.”

Michael didn’t want to hear this. Electra always said her father was harsh on her but maybe not harsh enough because she never grew up.

“Over a month ago, I told Electra that she needed to make some decisions in terms of Ty. I’ve been enabling her for years from stepping up and having any responsibility.”

“I’m glad to know someone else is saying the same thing we’ve said her whole life,” Kirk said.

He wouldn’t address those words. “I said she had to make some decisions. I feel as if I’m forcing the time between her and Ty. He’s getting older. He understands more. She’s no more than a babysitter and even then an unreliable one.”

Electra’s parents looked at each other. “What did she say?”